Function: Hungry, Solution: PREVENT

Some kids wake up HAPPY (Maelie) and some kids struggle to wake up (Charlie). I KNOW this about Charlie... mornings are hard. If we have to go somewhere he can't be rushed. He really needs time to eat, get dressed and go through those transitions. Okay, so I learned this about my son. 

Do I "keep on keeping on" and "survive" this stage, it will pass? Or do I adjust things in his environment to make it more successful for him?! ding ding ding. We have a winner. 

One thing I've been doing when I wake up and get Maelie breakfast... makes Charlie breakfast and then put it outside of his door before I carry on with my morning routine. So right when he opens his door in the morning, he has breakfast. He comes and finds me with his colored plate, and says with a huge smile, "Mom!!! I got a green one, my samwich." 

It sets an entirely different tone for the ENTIRE day.

Does your child get hangry? How can you PREVENT this?

I was working at a day care and the parents started to be concerned with how grumpy and miserable their kids would be on the drive home from care. Their last snack was 3, and they were due for dinnertime. But by the time they got home, and the parents actually made it… it was MELTDOWN CITY. So the parent board came up with an idea — cracker break. Anyone still there after 4:45 got a cracker break! And this changed SO MUCH for the night routine for the parents.

Pack snacks in your church bag, snacks in the car, snacks while running errands. If you have a REALLY busy day fill a lunch box up with food. Hangriness leads to a LOT of unwanted behavior. And is one of the easiest things to prevent.

Prevent your own hangriness.

Prepare snacks ahead of time, make a protein shake, always be stocked up on easy grab and go things. If you’re running around all day — YOU NEED FUEL. Because if you don’t have fuel, you will get hangry… which will also lead to a shorter fuse… which may lead to regrets in the way challenging situations will happen.

Lastly, DRINK WATER.

Sometimes when we feel hungry, we are actually just thirsty. So if you’re on the go (or just around the house) have a water accessible for your kids.